Ellie Spencer, on Facebook, shared a post from the Radnor Bird Blog which is quite concerning.
It seems that Powys County Council plan to use some of their "Levelling Up" money to improve the surface of the Monks Trod path up the Elan Valley to make it suitable for motorised off roaders (such as 4x4s and scrambler bikes).
The funds are usually used to improve roads and public transport rather than footpaths across peatland which is home to a number of rare birds - golden plovers nest there, as well as curlew, merlin, ring ouzels and red grouse.
Motorised transport was banned on the Monks Trod in 2002, because of the damage it was causing, but in 2021, motorbikes were again allowed. The byway crosses a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation, so it's one of the most legally protected areas in the country. Theoretically. Before 2021, and the opening up of the byway to motorbikes again, a Habitat Regulations Assessment was carried out by Natural Resources Wales, and they recommended that the path should not be resurfaced at the moment.
The Monks Trod was originally built by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, so they could walk from Abbey Cwm Hir to Strata Florida Abbey, a distance of about twenty miles. A blog called Exit Street View describes a walk along the Monks Trod last summer, when the writer took photos of the damage caused by 4x4s along the route - it's a fragile landscape, and the scars linger.
There is a bothy along the trail for walkers to stay overnight.
There will be a meeting at Powys County Council next week about this proposal, and anyone who is concerned should contact Councillor Jackie Charlton on cllr.jackie.charlton@powys.gov.uk
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